Death Notice: JOSEPH F. La PAT

Joseph F. La Pat, 64, died suddenly in his Uptown home Sunday morning, June 29, of heart failure.

He was a kind, generous, selfless man who loved Chicago.

Born in Racine, WI, he graduated from Horlick H.S. in 1962 and served in the Army as an MP from 1964-67, attaining the rank of Master Sergeant.

He worked for Goldblatt's from 1962-64 and 1967-74.

He and Dick Uyvari, his life-partner of 39 years, moved to Tinley Park in 1970, then Chicago's Lakeview area in 1971, before settling in Uptown in 1979.

He made life better for all he touched.

He and Dick contributed to many GLBT and environmental orgs.

and they restored many north side apartment buildings together.

He also loved gardening and cooking.

Along with Dick, he is survived by his three older sisters, Delores (Philip) Veselik, Mary Ann(Larry) Andersen and Patricia Barth; Dick's brothers Michael, Joseph (Kathleen) and Christopher (Shante); Dick's sister Mary Therese Carter; a total of 17 nieces and nephews; and Tommy and Murphy, their beloved cats.

Joe was preceded in death by his father, Frank La Pat, his mother and stepfather, Victoria and Walter Smolarek and Dick's brothers, Robert and Mark.

Private services will be held in Racine on July 12.

A public memorial will be held on July 26 at Misericordia Heart of Mercy, 6300 N. Ridge Ave., Chicago, at noon, followed by a full lunch.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Center on Halsted in Chicago.